Starter for internal-combustion engines.



B. VOL'KMAR.

START ER FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLIGATIONIILBD SEPT. 22, 1911.

' 1,097,899; Patenteq May 26; 1914.

w W W 1 UNIT'ED STATES P TENT OFFICE.

. act solely through friction and will be auto-,

BERNHARD VOLKMAR, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNO'B, T0 VOLKMAR AUTO STARTER COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK. l

STARTER FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 26, 1914.

Application filed September 22, 1911. Serial No. 650,797.

Starters for Internal-Combustion Engines,"

of which the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawings, 1 which form a part thereof.

My invention relates to starters for internal combustion engines, and more particularly to a type thereof adapted to turn the engine over a sufficient number'of times to insure the firing of the initial charge, and-to be reset bvthe subsequent operation of the engine.

The main object of the invention is to provide a starter for internal combustion engines, wherein the driven member will be normally uncoupled from the driving member, and wherein controlling means will bepro'vided which may be manually actuated to simultaneously couple said driven "member to said driving member and release the holding means acting upon-said driving member, means beingprovided whereby when the speed of the driven member exceeds that of the driving member, said coupling means will be automatically actuated to disconnect said members onefrom the other and 1 connect said driven member with the rewinding. mechanismacting upon said driving member in a mannerto cause the engine power to rewind said spring.

A further object is to provide a starter wherein the holding means for the driving member will be "heldtotally inoperative during the interval when the spring power is being appliedto the driven member so as 'to relieve. said holding member from the violent impacts which would result from the setting of said holding member-before the spring energy has become exhausted. Y

,A still further object is to provide a starter. wherein the holding member will Qmaticallv released during the direct movemerit of the driving member in rewinding and will be automatically 'set,j through the a reaction u )OIl said,=driving member when power has ceased to be applied to said member for rewmding purposes. thus eliminating the development of any impetus in said dr ving member prior to the actuation of said holding means. A i A still further objecteis to provide, a starter wherein the power-stored in the spring will be applied through the 'drivin member. directly to the driven member an the power for rewinding said spring will be applied by the driven. member in a reverse dlI'QCUOIl, automatically acting means being provided whereby with the 'eirhaus tion of the spring energy, the coupling means connecting the driving member and the driven member will be automatically shifted to couple said drivenmember with the rewinding mechanism; and supplemental means being provided whereby when suflicient energy has been developed inYthe springsaid coupling member will be dis:

connected 'from said re'winding mechanism 7 and positioned in a neutral position.

A still further object is to provide in connection with a clutch mechanism of the character described, a construct on: whereby the proper clearance between the co'ciperating members of the'clutch mechanism will be afforded to avoid noisefrom the starter when the engine. is running;

A still further object is to provide a starter wherein the coupling means above referred to will be normally disconnected from the driven member and'from there winding mechanismin orderthat manual power may be applied to said rewinding mechanism to tension the spring or springs independently of the driven member or engine power.

A still further object is to provide a. 1 starter wherein all of the operative parts thereof will be readily accessible without disconnecting the starter from. the engine,

thus facilitating inspection and repairs.

be readily removed without taking apart.

the operative mechanisms.

2 'A still further ob1ect 's to provide a starter wherein the driving member .Will be mounte'd'upon the driven member, and will he so constructed as to constantly supply lubricant to said driven memberm a manner'to minimize friction-between these two members. And a stillfurther object is to provide a starter which will be composed of few parts so associated and combined as to control the spring energy without likelihood of breakage displacement ofparts,

and wherein'therewinding mechanism will beoperative only upon the exhaustion of the spring energy.

The invention consists in the novel features of. construction. and combination of parts, hereinafter setforth and described and more particularly pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

Referring to the dra\'vings:-Figi.ire l a vertical section through a starter embodying my invention; Fig.2 isa front elevation thereof, with the cap removed; Fig. 3 is a detailed view showing the manner of developing spring energy manually; and Fig. 4 is a detailed view of the coupling member actuating means.

Like letters refer to like parts, throughout the'several views. In the embodiment of my invention shown in the drawings, 1 indicates a head plate adapted to be attached to the chassis or engine frame of an automobile, which plate hasmo-unted thereon a spring drum 2, havinga fixed head 3. Rotatably mounted within the head 3, and head plate 1, is a driving member or "spring arbor l, acting upon which and the casing. 2 is a plurality of heavy coiled. springs 5. The drum 2 is nonrotatable, the spring energy being applied through the driving member or spring arbor 4, in starting the engine, and the power of said engine being applied to said member "by means of the ,rewinding mech n 5 which will be described hereinafter, 'to rewind said springs or restore the energy thereto. Mounted within the driving meniber or spring arbor his a driven member 6,

which is providedwith any suitable means whereby it maybe coupled to the engine crank shaft. The driving member or spring arbor 4 has rigidly attached thereto a crown gear or clutch member 7, adapted to cotiperate with a coupling member 8 alined to, and

'45 rotatable with, the driven member 6. Normally said coupling member 8 is disconnected from the cooperating clutch member 7, so as to permit the driven member to run absolutely free of the driving member under normal conditions. Parallel with the head 3 is a fixed plate 9, within which is'mounted a hollow rotary shaft 10, carryinga plate 11 having a circular rim 12 thereon. The shaft '10 rotates within an 'elongated bearing 13 carried by the plate 9, which bearing serves the twofold purpose of preserving the alinement "of the shaft 10, and

cooperating with the holding mechanism by means of which'the spring energy is held in the springs as, and after they are rewound', and is released when. it is desired to apply same to the drivenmember for starting the engine. The'sh'aft 10 carries thereon a spur gear 14, by me3I1S Of' which said shaft is geared to the driving member so that the driving member is'placed under the control of the holding and controlling mechanism through the shaft 10. Enmeshed with the gear 1% is a gear 15 carrying'a pinion 16, said gear and said pinionbeing mounted upon the stud l7 carried by the plate 9. The pinion 16in turn meshes with a gear 18 carrying a pinion 19, said gear and pinionv being mounted upon the shaft 20 extending between the head 3 and the plate 9. The gear 19 in turn meshes with a gear 21 upon the driving member or spring arbor i, thus forming a reducing gear train between said driving member or spring arbor 4, and the shaft 10 through which the said driving member is held inert or is-reversely rotated to restore energy-to the springs 5, thus urilizin g one and the same mechanism for the twofold purpose of holding the spring energy, as and after it-is developed, and for transmitting the power necessary to develop such energy.

Hung upon and adapted to act upon the rim 12. is a friction clutch member 22, having a side recess therein which straddles said rim. Acting upon said clutch member. is a spring 23 which normally draws the member 22 in the direction of rotation of the ri 12, underthe control of thedriving member. The function of this spring is to normally draw the shoulder 21- at the top of the clutch 22 against the ccbperating shoulder 25 upon the bearing '13. lVhen the clutch member 22 is set against the shoulder or stop 25, the said clutch will be set through the power exerted by :the springs 5,

or in other words, said clut'et' will hold the move away from the shoulder 25, thus permitting the rimto be freely rotated in one direction while being held against rotation in the othcrdirection through the automatic action of theclutch 22. I

This construction is desirable in that as the clutch is set, it does not permit the rim 12 to gather impetus ormomentum under .23, thesaid spring will allow the clutch to. I

the action of the springs, and thus permits] a clutch of comparatively small dimensions to control the great energy stored in said springs.

It will be observed that the gearsystem between the driving member and the hold} ing clutch is always in meshso that when these gears are-used as a rewinding mech-i anism, the power .will be applied continuously to rewind the springs, although arrangement of gears is such aseto re'lieve the engine from too great a load dunngtlns rewmding interval. the driving member being gearedvclown from the driven member during this interval.

Pivotally mounted in the'bracket 26, carried by the plate 9, is'a controlling lever 2T. 28 means of which the driving inember 1s coupled to the driven member and simultaneously with this coupling act-ion,

'Jthe clutch member 22'is' automatically released; to. permit the free rotation of the driving 11' ember with the driven member; Means are also-provided in conjunction with said controlling lever whereby, after the ex IllilllSilOll of the spring energy, the driven j membeir from tnism to be automaticallyactuated through the rewinding mechanism. Thus it will'bc observed that the drivlng member, when transmitting power to the driven member, is.

' coupled directly thereto, and when rewind: ingjthe springs I S-COUPlBd thereto through a reducing gear system. To accomplish the coupllng of the mem- .-ber 8 withethe'sh'aft 10,1 provide said shaft and said coupling, upon-theadjacent faces thereof, with crown-gears or other equiva vlent impact coupling means. v

The cbntrolllng lever 15 preferably a bipart lever, the two parts 27 and 28 of which are pivotally connectedat 29 to allow anin dependent movement of the part 27-, after being uncoupled from the shaftyl0= to insure the proper clearancebetween the coupling surfaces'uponthese two parts. This independent movement of the part 27, 1 secure byallowing clearance about the pivotal point 29, as shown iii-Fig.4. The upper part of'the part 28 is forked at 30 toform a feather entering, an annular slot in the member8. A fiat spring-.31 is carried-by one of the parts as 2801 the controlling lever and .acts upon the other in a manner'to normany hold the'parts)27 28 in alinement, and at the same time to accomplish a slight movement of the coupling member 8 after it has been disengaged from the shaft 10. c

' Acting upon the member 8,'in a manner to normally draw it toward the shaft 10 is 'a spring 32, the tension of which is lighter thanthat of the spring 31', the action of said spring 321 accomplishing the automatic coupling of the driven member to the rewinding mechanism through the clutch member 8. Carried by the controlling lever is an arm 33, projecting into close juxtaposition to,

and adapted to engage and displace, the

pClUtCll. member 22, to simultaneously release fsaid clutch'member with the oscillation of the controlling lever, to throw the member 8 into engagement with the driving member,

to couple these two parts together, and apply power to the engine. The-outer end of the arm33 is beveled asshownpto'secure a cumming-action in displacingsaid member and thus contribute toward-ease -1n the tripping ofthe starter. v The controlling'lever andtheclutch member 8 are normally held in a neutral position wherein said member .8=will' be"'connected with neither the driving member nor the-wrewinding mechanism, and the clutch member 22 will besetu'pon-"the rim l2. qThis condiv tion is. brought aboutcwhen the desired encrgy has been developdin'the springs 5; the mechanism accomplishing therestoration of the parts to normal being automatically actuated from the drivingmemberqso as to be set through the actuation of. said-driving member in a manner to. cause a'reversal of Y the: direction of rotatlon of said drivlng member in restoring the energy to the spring to impart a' timely actuation tosaid controlling lever. This mechanism prefer: ably= comprises a Geneva gear 34, mounted upon thehead 3 and actuatedbya stud 3:)

carried by the driving member or spring arbor 4. The face of said arbor is cutaway adjacent to the pin35 in the manner usual in connection with Geneva gears, the coop- 'erationbetween said gear and said"- arbor preventing the over-running of this mechanism through the impetus or momentumdue to the violence of the impact between "the pm 35 and the said gear Carried by the gear 34 is a bevel" 36, adapted-- to engage the controlling lever 2728 adjacent to the bottom thereof,- which bevel imparts that movement tov the lever necessary to disengage it from the rewinding mechanism and after such disengagement hold saidgear against movement under the spring 32, and position the parts in themanner above referred; to, which is the normal inoperative position of all partsof the starter, exceptingthe holding clutch22, which, when the; other parts are normally inoperative, as well as during th-e rewinding interval, is'in its normal opera- A two position.

controlling lever is a pullicord. or other equivalent means 37 by means of which said.

lever may be manuallyoscillated to couple the'driving member and the driven member Acting upon the, longestleverage ,of, the

together and release the holding clutch to initiate the operative moment of the starter,

' The springarbor tis provided with a plurality of radially extending openings'38, through which oil may flow from the spring chamber aboutsaid arbor to the driven memg M her or shaft 6, so as to constantly lubricate 5 thisshaft, the springs being plied with lubricating oil.

Securedto the casing or always isup closing hood 39 which covers the entire mechanism oif thestarter for the three-fold purpose of excluding dust and dirt'from the parts, giving afinished appearance ,to the structure, and permitting ready access to the spection ofthat portion of the mechanism actuation of the starter to turn over the en most subject to disarrangement and wear,

and also permits the removal and replacement of parts without disconnecting the starter from the engine. r

Owing to the frequent failure of engines to start, due to improper sparking or other greasons, it sometimes follows that the spring energy. in the starter is exhausted Without starting the engine. Under such conditions, it isdesirable to provide means whereby the engine may be manually started or whereby the rewinding mechanism may be actuated manually to develop the desired energy in the springs so as to permit the subsequent gine. To permit such manual development of energy in the springs, I provide the plate .11 with a plurality of studs 40 adapted to the crank shaft 42, said shaft being provided with studs 43 'adapted to engage openings in said collar so as to rotate said collar with the actuation of said crank. The crank 42 I also provide with an impact coupling face 44 adapted to coiiperate with a similar coupling face 45 upon the driven member 6.

The operation of the herein described ap-' para'tus is substantially as follows :-The

plate 1 having been attached adjacent to the engine in any desired manner, the driven member 6 is coupled to the engine in any desired or well .known manner, thus positionlng the starter and holding 1t 1n the desired relation to the engine so as to avoid a loss of alinement in the engine shaft and,

the driven member. If the springs have been so rewound as to have the desired energy stored therein, the relation of parts will be as shown in Fig. 1. of the drawings, and the engine may be started at any time by means'of the pull cord 37 under the control of a treadle, lever or any other desired means, not shown. -When power-is applied to the cord 37, it oscillates the bi-part l-evei '27-2S, the forked end of which through its' engagement with the coupllng member 8 5.

will reciprocate said member uponthe driven member 6 so as to bring the right hand be engaged by a removable c'ollaretl upon.

clutch surfaces upon said member into .33 thereon will engage the-bottom .of the friction clutch member. 22, and force, it, against the tension of its spring, away from the shoulder 25 sufficiently to remove it from frictional engagement with the rim 12 and permit the plate 11 and the driving member 4 to turn-freely. With the rotation of the driving member 4, the engine will be turned over and the ge'artrain between the shaft 10 and said driving member will run idly. V'Vith each rotation of. the driving member 4, the stud 35 thereon will impart a'partial rotation to the Geneva gear 34 which willdisplace the cam surface 36 thereon so as to permit the bi-part lever 27- 28 to oscillate in the opposite direction in a manner which will be hereinafter referred to The quantity of movement of the cam surface 36 will be determined by the number of rotations of the driving member 4;, thus necessitating a reverse rotation of said driving member and said Geneva gear before said cam surface will be restored to its formerposition. \Vhile power is being applied to thedriven member by the driving member, through the clutch members 7 and 8, the friction between the cooperating clutch surfaces upon said clutch members will maintain the coupling in the closed posi tion, but when the driven member 6 rotates under the engine power, independentlypf the driving member 4, this friction will be decreased to an extent to permit the spring 32 to disengage the member 8 from the member 7 and throw ittowardand intoengagement with the shaft 10.

' The energy stored in the springs o will ordinarily be sufiicient to turn the engine over only two or three times, so that be-' fore the members 7 and Swill be disengaged in the manner described, thespring energy i will be exhausted or substantially exhausted. Vith the return reciprocation of the controlling lever 27 28, thearm 33 thereon will be withdrawn from engagement with the friction clutch member 22, whereupon the spring 23 will immediately reset said member upon the rim 12 so as to properly her 4, to rotate same in the reverse direction engine shaft, and thus rewind the springs to that during which power isapplied to the the rim 12 being free to rotate in the di- 'rection necessary to rewind said springs,

but being held against any return'movement byf'the frictionclutch member 22 which op- "crates "antomatically under its spring '23.

movement of the lever 2728 to accom-' ypllsh the connection of the coupling i'nemjiibermfifand the slia'ftlO'isfmade possible by disconnect it from the shaft 10.

tionof the springs 5 will be applied directly gm said clutch member 22 which will hold all 3 ofthe energy developed in said springs until 'such time as the operator may desire to again actuate the starter.

' Inasmuch. as movement of the cam surface 36 will cease instantly upon the disengagewhichjwearwould occur between-the c06 ment of-the clutclimember 8 from the shaft 10, there i would arise a condition .under eratingclutch surfaces upon the said clutch members with' an accompanyingobjection mane noise. To avoid this difiiculty, I.em-

ploy the. bi-part controlling lever. With I u this lever, as the member 8 is forced toward between it andthe part 27, and the member S-being forcedwagainst the tension of the spring 32, by the higher tension of the spring. 31,'will prevent the taking-up of this 1 the member 7,.the part 28 will oscillate in a manner to tend to'takeup the lost motion or clearanceat the point of pivotal connection lost motion until the members 7 and 8 are in actual engagement. Upon the oscillation of the said controlling lever,'u nder the control of the spring 32,,the, parts 2 7..and '28 will vmove in u nison,.but as the lever 'isrec'iprocated by thecam 36, the frlctionale'ngagement between theelutch surfaces upon the member 8 and the shaft 10, wilLresult; in the tensioning of the spring 31'pr1or to-and dur-,

ing anymovement oft-he memberS, sov that after the disengagement of said members 8 and 10, the spring 31 will impart to the part 27 a slight movement in excessof that under the cam 36 thus affording slight:clearance between the clutchsurfaces and avoiding the noise and wear above referred to.

Inasmuch asthe friction clutch member 22 -'acts constantly to hold the rim plate 11 flagainst: a return movement, immediately upon the disconnection of the clutch member 8 from the shaft .l0 ,'the power or the reac- From the foregoing it will be observed' that the clutch" block 8 is normally'held by the ca'm36 in a neutral positionbetween the.

clutch'surfaces 7 and 10,. and disengaged 1 I from both of these surfaces. When the starter is actuated through the cord 37, the v lever 27-28 is rocked against the tension of the spring 32 and away from the cam. -36,

thus throwing the clutch block 8 into mesh I with the clutch surface 7 to the right of Fig;

1,as heretofore described. The tension of the spring 32 is increased by this movement,

this spring always havinga normal tendency -t'o*force. the blockl8 away from the surface 7 into a neutral position, which tendency is overcome by the frictionb'etween these two clutchsurfaces engendered by the energy of thesprings5. when the starter is in operationrj Instantly upon the release of this friction, as by the .exhausti'on of spring energy, or a speed ofthe-Q'clutch' 7 in excess of thatof the block, the spring32 will act upon the lever 2728 to an extent to throw said clutch block 8 into engagement with the surface 10, the cam '36 being at this moment but limitation upon the' oscillatory movement of this arm. The spring 31 during this process is not in tension, sothat it (exerts no influence in disengaging the blockfrom' the clutch 10. When, however, the canr136 is revstored to its normal position through the continued rotation of the stud-35,in apply- F .ingpower to the driven member 6, it will, during the first portion of its engagement with the ar'ini27,ltension the spring 31'so as i todevelop "a tendency. of this. spring .to

. of the path of the-arm 27,. thus placing no throw the arm 28, and with it the clutch block 8, out of engagement'with the clutch surface .10. This tendency, however, is" resisted by the friction betweenthe members 8 and 10, thus preserving thetension of this spring until the cam 36,- throughthe arms 2728, has fully disengaged the clutch surfaces 8 and 10 and'the member 10 has ceased to rotate. Thereupon, the cam 36 will-be come idle so that the clutch surface the 5 block 8 will have a tendency to ride upon the similarsurfaces upon the shaft 10, thus I causing' wear ,and noise. Under these condi: tions, however, the spring 31 s free toact so that its tension will, impart a. very slight movement to thejblock 8, thus moving this block sufliciently to avoid t-he wear and noise above referred to. .This movement ,underthe spring 31', occurriugafter the cam 36 has ceased :to impart movement to the lever 27 28, is a movement of said lever in excess ofthat imparted by said cam,

."Ifth e en gine should not startiuiiderlthe spring energy, the engine may be started by hand by using the crank 42, without the col! :1ar41- thereon, in the usual inannerg, the pull cord 7 ing us d't hold the n'ieinber'B out of engagementivi-th the shaft-10. If it'be preferred to restore the energy to the springs, however, the collar 41 may be slippedcover the stem of the crank 42 and into engagement with the, studs 43' thereon and broughfi'nto engagement with the studs I 40 upon the plate 11, the member 8 being disconnected as before. The rewinding mechanism alone will then be actuated to rotate the driving member or spring arbor ,4: and develop the desired energy in the springs. When the desired spring energy has been developed, all of the parts will be positioned as shown in Fig. l,preparatory to the next actuation of the starter. When rewinding in the mannerdescribed, the friction clutch member 22 would prevent any kick-back upon the crank.

Through the removal of the casing 39, the

' entire rewinding, holding, and controlling mechanisms will'be exposed at the front of the starter, so that by merely removing said casing at any time, the condition of these mechanisms may be readily ascertained, or if repairs or renewal of parts are necessary,

the same maybe quickly and readily accomplished. I p

' The arrangement of parts is not only comparent that such may bemod'ified withoutv departing from the spirit or scope of the invention; V I

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is

1. A starter for internal combustion engines, embodying therein means for storing springenergy, a driving member adapted to be acutated by said energy, a driven member, "a rewinding mechanism, including therein 7 a friction clutch adapted to be automatically set by said spring energy, 1 whereby said driving member is normally held against movement in one direction, while said rewinding mechanism, is permit- 'tedto be freely actuated to restore said spring energy, a coupling member rotatable with said driven member adapted to be alternately connected with said driving member and with' said rewinding mechanism, means whereby said coupl ng'member may be connected with said driving member, automati- "cally actingmeans whereby, with the exhaustion of the spring energy, said coupling member will be disconnected from said driving member and connected with said rewinding mechanism, means for automatn cally, disconnect ng said coupling member ,grom said rewinding mechanism when the .desired'spring energy has been developed,

andmeans whereby said friction clutch may be released to apply saidspring energyuto said driving member. r

2. A starter for internal combustion engines embodying therein means for storing spring energy, a driving member adapted to be actuated by said energy, a driven member, a rewinding mechanism, including therein a friction clutch adapted to be automaticallyset by said'spring energy, whereby said driving member is normally held against movement in one direction, while said rewinding mechanism is permitted to be freely actuated to restore said spring energy, a coupling member rotatable with said driven member and adapted to be alternately connected with said driving mmber'and with said rewinding mechanism, means adapted to simultaneously connect said coupling member with said driving member and release said friction clut ch, automaticallyacting means whereby, with the exhaustion of the spring energy, said coupling member willbe disconnected from said driving member and connected with said rewinding mechanism, means for automatically disconnecting said coupling member from said rewinding mechanism when the desired spring energy has been developed, and means whereby said friction clutch may be released to apply saidspring energy to said driving member. 1

- 3. A starter. for internal combustion engines, embodying therein means for storing spring energy,.a driving member adapted to be actuated by said energy, a driven member, a rewinding mechanism, including therein a friction clutch adapted to be automatically set by said spring energy, whereby said driving member is normally held against movement ice in one direction, while said rewinding mech-,

anism' is' permitted to'be freely actuated to restore said spring energy, a coupling memberrotatable'with said driven member and adapted to be alternately connected with said driving member and with said rewinding mechanism, means adapted to simultaneously connect said coupling member with said driving member and release said fri tion clutch, automatically acting means whereby,

,with the exhaustion of the spring energy,

. spring energy, a driving member adapted to be actu ted by saidenergy, an-imp'act con.-

pling carried thereby,arewinding mechanism,

' embodying therein an impact coupling op-' 'positely disposed to" said first named'coupling, and a friction clutch adapted to be automatically set by said spring energy, where'- .by, said' driving member is normall held against movement in one direction while said rewinding mechanism is permitted .to be freely actuated to restore said springfenergy,

a driven me1nber, an impact coupling member mounted thereon and rotatable therewith, means-normally. holding said coupling mem- 5 her out of engagement with the impact couplings. of both said driving member and said rewinding mechanism, means adapted to act simultaneously-with said last named meanswhereby when said coupling member 0 is connected to said. driving -member, said friction clutch will be released, and when said coupling member is connected to said rewinding mechanism said friction clutch P will be set, means whereby said coupling member may beconnected-tosa'id driving member, aut0matically acting means disconnectingsaid coupling from said driving member and connecting it to said rewinding mechanism, and automatically acting means for disconnecting said coupling member from'said rewinding mechanism when the desired spring" energy has beendevelcped.

5. A starter for internal combustion engines, embodying therein means for storin 3'5 spring energy, a driving member adapte tobe actuated by said energy, a driven member, arewinding mechanism, said rewinding mechanism including therein a. friction clutch adapted tolbe automatically set by- 40. said spring-energy whereby saiddriving:

member is normallyheld against movement in one direction, while being permitted to -be freely rotated to restore said. spring en'- ergy, a-coupling member rotatable with said drrven member adapted to be alternately connected with said driving member and with said rewindingmechanism, an oscillatory lever adapted to'engage said 'couph'ngmember, automatically acting means acting upon- 01 said lever whereby, w1ththeexhaustion of the spring energy, said coupling member will be disconnected from said driving memher and connectedwith. said rewinding mech anism, means acting upon saidle'ver for automatically disconnecting said coupling member from said i rewinding mechanism when the deslredsprln energy hasbeen de- .veloped, and 'means' w ere-by said. frictionclutch may be'released'toa ply said'spring energy tnleid driving mem 1 65. A .start r for fmterna'l combustion :n-f

" spring energy, a drivingmember-adajited to be actuated by said energy, 8.. driv n-mem ers.

a. Reader: enisese.h fdi g amb rj adapted to control said spring energy, a coupling member rotatable with said driven member "ada-pt'cdto be alternately connected with. said driving member and with said rewinding' mechanism, an oscillatory lever adapted to engage said coupling member,- a-

spring acting upon said lever whereby, with the exhaustion-of the spring energy, said coupling member will be disconnected from said driving member and-connected with said. 'rewindin-g. mechanism, means acting upon said lei-"er for automatically (lisconnecting said coupling member from said re-x winding mechanism when the desired spring energy has been developed, and meansjgo "whereby said holding member may be re leased vto'apply said spring energy to said a 1 driving member.

connected .With said driving misman ed W with said rewinding mechanism; an oscil later-y lever adapted to engage's aid coupling member, automatically acting means acting '100 upon said lever whereby, with the exhaustion of the sprii-ig energy, said coupling member will bediscon'nected from sai'd'drivingmein- "her and connected with said rewl'ndmgmecl anism, acamfl receiving a timely-movement from saiddriving member acting upon said lever for automatically d sconnecting said; I

' couplinginember from said rewinding mechanism when thedesiredspring'energy has been developed, and .means whereby said friction clutch may bereleased to apply said .springenergy to said driving member.- j

8. A starter for internal combustion -en'- gines, einbodying therein means for storing springenergv, a driving member-adapted to be actuatedby said.-energy ,.a driven memq ber,:zi rewinding mechanism,"a hcldin'g'mem- .bel', adapted to control said spring energy, a coupling-member rotatable with said driven member adapted-to be alter-minty connected a with said driving member aid with said rewinding mechanism, an leveradapted to engage said' coupling member, comprising two pivotally parts having a limited movement-relativeto each 125,?

other and a spring carried by onenf said parts and acting upon the other to force'said coupling awayfrom said rewinding -m'echa-. nism, a, spring acti'n'gupon said lever where- I by, with theexhau'stioniof the springene'rgy, isof said coupling member will bedisconnected from said driving member and connected with said rewinding mechanism, means acting upon-said lever'for automatically disconnecting said coupling member from said rewinding mechanism when the desired spring energy has been developed, and means whereby said holding member may be released to apply said spring energy to, said driving member.

9. A starter for internal combustion engines, embodying therein means for storing spring energy, a driving member adapted to be actuated by said energy, a driven member, a rewinding mechanism, holding means comprising a rotary plate having a rim. thereon and forming a part of said rewinding mechanism, a clamping member acting solely through friction acting upon said rim, and a spring normally setting said 'clamping member upon said rim, adapted to control said spring energy, a coupling member rotatable with said driven member adapted to be alternately connected with said driving member an d with said rewinding mechanism, an oscillatory lever adapted to engage said coupling member, automatically acting meansacting upon said lever whereby, with the GXhttllStlOIl of'the spring energy, said coupling member will be disconnected from said driving member and connected with said rewinding mechanism, acam receiving a' timely movement "from said driving member acting upon said lever for automatically disconnecting said coupling member fromsaid rewindnig mechan sm when the desired spring energy has been developed, means carried by said lever whereby said clamping member is automatically released as said coupling member is connected to said driving member and is permitted to automatically set as said coupling member is disconnected from said drivmg member, and means whereby said holding member may be re:

leased to apply said spring energy to said driving mem oer.

10. A starter gines embodying therein means for storing spring energy, a driving memberadapted to be actuated by saidenergy, adriven member, a rewindingme'chanism, holding means adapted to control said spring energy comprising a rotary plate having a rim thereon and forming a part of said rewinding mechanism, a clamping member acting solely through friction, acting upon said rim, and a spring normally setting said clamping member upon said rim. a coupling member rotatable with said driven member adapted to be alternately vconnected with said driving member and with said rewinding mechanism, an oscillatory leveradapted to engage said coupling member, automatically acting means acting, upon said lever, whereby, with the exhaustion of the sprmg energy,

for internal combustion en-- said coupling membernvill be disconnected from said :driving member and connected with -said reivinding mechanism, means act'- ing upon said lever for automatically disconnecting said coupling member from said rewinding mechanism when 'the desired spring energy has been developed, an arm having a beveled surface adapted to engage said clamping member whereby said clamping member is automatically released as said coupling member is connected to said driving member and is permitted to automatically set as said-.coupling member is disconnected from" said" driving member, and

means whereby said holding member may be released to apply said spring energyto said driving member.

, 11. A starter'for internal combustion 'engines, embodyingtherein means for storing spring energy, driving member adapted to be actuated by said energyhaving a coupling surfaceat one end thereof, a driven member mounted within and concentric with said driving member, a 'rewinding 'mechanism, a coupling surface thereon parallel with the coupling surface upon said driving member and spaced away therefrom,

said rewinding mechanism including therein a friction clutch adapted to be automatically set by said spring energy, whereby said driving member is normally held against movement in one direction, while being permitted to be freely actuated to restore said springenergyi a coupling member, splined upon, so as to be rotatable with, said driven member adapted to be alternately connectedvwith said driving member and with said rewinding mechanism, said coupling 'member having upon'both ends thereof clutch surfaces, means Whereby'said r couplmm member may be connected wlth said driving member, automatically acting means wher\bv, with the exhaustionof the spring energy, said'coupling member will be disconnected from saiddriving member and connected with said rewinding mechanism. means for automaticallydisconnecting said coupling member from said rewinding mechanism when the desired spring energy has been developed, and means whereby said friction clutchmay be released to apply said spring energy to said driving member.

12. A st arter for internal combustion engines, embodying therein meansfor storing spring energy, a driving member ada-rnted to be actuated by 'said energy, a driven member, a r'ewindin'g mechamsm, includlng therein a friction clutch adapted-to be automatically set by said springen'ergy, whereby said driving member is normally held against movement in 1 one direction, while said rewinding mechanism isv permitted to be: freely actuated to restore said-spring energy, a coupling'member rotatable with, said driven member adapted-to be alterwinding mechanism when the desired spring. energy has been developed, comprising a Geneva gear, a pin carried by saiddriving member, and a cam carried bysaid gear, whereby said gear will be alternately'rotatedin opposite directions from said"d-riving member, and means "whereby said, friction clutch may .be released'to apply :said 20, spring energy to said driving member.

13. Astarter for internal combustion-em gines, embodying therein a driving member, a driven member, a rewindinginechanism comprising a gear train, the-last gear of which is normally in'mesh'wit'h the driving member and the first gear of which is adapted to be-coupled' directlyto the driven mem ber, l-a' friction clutch included I in said rewinding mechan1sm,'means whereby said boupling' member whereby said driving member is coupled. directly to said driven member and said driven member is couple-d through said rewinding mechanism to said driving member to apply the spring energy directly to said driven member and indirectly'from said driven member to said drivingmember.

14. A starter for internal Combustion engines, embodying therein a'driving member, a driven member, arewinding mechanism comprising a gear'train', the last gear of which is normally in mesh with the driving member and the first gear of which is adapted to be coupled directly to the driven member, holding means acting solely through friction, acting, upon said rewinding mechanism, means whereby said holding means are made inoperative with the actuationsof the starter and are rendered operative during the rewindinginterval, and a coupling member whereby said driving member may be-alternately coupled directly to 'said driven member and said driven member is coupledthrough said re.- winding mechanism to said driving member to apply the spring energy directly to v said driven memberand indirectly from said driven. member to said driving member.

15. A starter for internal combustion en- 7 gines', embodying therein a spring casing "having mounted therein a spring and-arotatable. arbor therefor, said casing having a i 65 head upon its forward face, a plate parallel upon said lever for automatically discon- [said driven member adapted to be, alterfriction clutch may be .made' inoperative with the actuation of the starter, and a means whereby, with theexhaustion of the with and spaced away-from .tsaid :head,;.a", coupling member, and "a rewinding mechanism mounted between said headLand said plate and upon said plate, whereby alllthe operative parts pf the starter are-exposed mechanism) 1 16. A starter for internal combustion enand accessil'ile, and a cover in closing' said gines, embodying therein means forstoririg spring energy, a driving member adapted to be actuated by sa d energy, a driven member, a. rewinding mechanism, including therein a friction clutch adaptedvto beautov matical'ly' set by said spring energy, whereby said driving member is normally held against movementin- -.one direction, while said rewinding mechanism ispermitte'd tofreel actuated to restore said spring energy, a coupling member rotatable with nately connected with saiddriving member and \Vltll said rewinding mechanism, means whereby said couplingmember may be con nected with said driven member, automati-- cally acting meansjwhereby, w th the ex haust-ion ofithe spring nergy, said coupling member will .bedisconnected from said driven member and connectedwith' said re- "winding mechanism, means ,for automati- 'cally disconnecting said vcoupling member from said rewinding mechanism when-the desired spring energy has been developed, means whereby said friction clutch may be released to apply said spring energy to saiddriving. member, and means carried by sai 'rewinding'mechanism whereby said mecha: nism may be actuated mt mu'ally.

, 17.jA starter for internal combustion engines, embodying-therein means for storing spring energy, a driving member adapted to 5", be actuated bysaidienergy, a driven mem-' her, a rewinding mechanism, including there-- in a friction clutch adaptedto be automatically set by said spring energy, whereby said, driving member is normally held. against movement in one'direction, while said rewinding mechanism. is permitted to be freely actuated to restore saidspring energy, a, coupling member rotatable with said driven member adapted-to be' alternately ;connect- 1 5" ed Withsa'id driving member and with said rewinding mechanism, means whereby .said coupling memb'er' maybe connected. with said driven member, automatically [acting spring "energy, saidzcoupling member will be disconnected from saidcdriven member and connected with. said rewinding mechanism, means for."automaticallyidisconnectring said coupling member "from said re-'1'25 r,- and means comprising a clutch member-Ii carried by said rewinding mechanisnr nd a saidclutch member, whereb crank member; adapted to -cotiperate Wlth said mechanism may be actuated manna yfi.

18.- A starter for internal-combustion engines, embodying therein means ior storing spring enei gy, a driving member adapted to be actuated by said-energy, a driven mem .ber, a-= rewinding mechanism, a holding member adapted to control said spring energy,a couplingmember rotatable with:

said driven member adapted to be alternately connected with said driving member and with said rewinding mechanism, means 16 whereby said coupling member may be connected with said driven member, automatically actin means whereby, with the exhaustion'o thespring energy, said coupling 1 member 'will .be disconnected from said clutch member and a crank member carrying a removable member adapted to cooperate vwith said clutch member, whereby said mechanism may be actuated manually, and

memos sfid-drivem-niemberfldirectl A-starterfor internncpmbustion enginesembodying therein aspring; actuated driving member, a' rewinding mechanism,

' friction clutch whereby said'adriving membe! is controlled through said rewinding mechanism, a driven'- member,.a clutch member carried thereby adapted-to be normally held in a neutral, position and to be alternat ely connected with said driving member landwith said rewinding mechanism, a lever l controlling said clutch member, and respective means actin'gnpon said lever whereby said'livermay oscillated 'in one directionf-to" connect said drivin member and said 'drivem memberand in t e opposite 'dinormal inoperative position, whereby all of control of one lever,

fixed j-my signature in the'presence of two jtember, 19,11.

'- BERNHARD VOLKMAR.

Attest CLAUSIA FnANoK,

EUGENE WENIN'G;

memben'may he used: to actuate rectiontoconnect said driven member and- ;said rewmdmg-mechamsm and return to its -.In witness whereof, Ixhave hereunto 'af-- including therein an automatically acting the junctions of the starterare under the subscribing witnesses,thi's 18th day of Sep'- 3 

